1. Anglo-Saxon Literature
12TH Grade Brit Lit

2. Anglo-Saxon Literature
Anglo-Saxon Poetry
Heroic – recounts the achievements of warriors
Epic – a long heroic poem celebrating a legendary warrior known for his courage, strength, and dignity
Elegiac – mourns the death of loved ones and the loss of the past (“Seafarer” is an ELEGY)
Lyric – expresses the thoughts and feelings of a single speaker, composed for easy memorization and recitation

3. Anglo-Saxon Literature cont.
Most famous example of an epic (heroic) poem is Beowulf
Examples of elegiac poetry: “The Seafarer,” “The Wanderer,” and “The Wife’s Lament”
authors of these poems are unknown because they were told in the oral tradition, passed down from generation to generation
Epic poems have epic heroes, a hero who
takes on quests in the pursuit of fame and glory
to build his reputation

4. Anglo-Saxon Literature cont.
Anglo-Saxon Poetic Elements
Caesura – rhythmic breaks in the middle of lines, where the speaker could pause for breath
for example: “Oft to the wanderer, weary of exile”
Kenning – two-word poetic renaming of people, places, and things
for example: whales’ home for the sea and gray beards for old men
Assonance – the repetition of vowel sounds
for example: “batter these ramparts”
Alliteration – the repetition of initial consonant sounds
for example: “showed me suffering in a hundred ships”